Dogs Stung by Bees or Wasps

How to Handle Bee Wasp Stings on Dogs

How to Protect Your Dog from Bee Stings

Question Comment 1: Something to consider, and something you might want to discuss with your vet (depending on how far you are from the hospital): having an epi-pen in the house. This time of year we are seeing the wasps, hornets, etc returning. Last year they were completely obnoxious, building endless nests/hives in every crack and crevass of the fencing. A few years ago a dog came into the house, swinging its head from side to side, whimpering piteously. Its face was so horribly swollen, I did not know which dog it was. Nose, eyes, lips, everything swollen beyond belief. Her face was at least twice its normal size. Thank God we had injectible epinephrine in the house, and Lou was able to respond and treat her quickly. Turns out it was poor Bea (we could only determine this by process of elimination!!), and she was stung by something on her face. We took her to the vet (of course) and they continued to treat her there and monitor her all day and she made a full recovery... but if not for the epi injection, I fear her throat could have swelled closed before we could get to a vet. I sometimes see my dogs, especially the brainless young ones, trying to catch bees and wasps, snapping at them in the air. A bee or wasp sting in the throat could be life threatening in a matter of minutes.. so please talk to your vet about having something on hand for an emergency. And if you are hiking with your dog in the woods, make sure this is part of your emergency kit in your backpack... for yourself AND your dog. Just a thought for today as spring approaches.

Personal Experience

Comment 2: Years ago my dog, a chocolate lab was digging in the yard and opened up a nest of wasps - she scratched herself like crazy and was miserable- we immediately gave her benadryl - and to this day I believe that saved her life...we found it at dinner time, but as the night wore on her glands were as swollen as golf balls, her whole body had a rash and she was throwing up - took her to the emerg vet - they gave her an iv and other injections to reduce the inflammation etc and she was fine....as I said, I truly believe that the benadryl saved her life - so if you don't have the epi pen know that benadryl is also effective...I know it probably depends on the number of stings, animal sensitivity etc- but I also know that I was very fortunate that I called poison control and they told me what to do.....

Prepare for a Bee Sting

Comment 3: I sometimes see my dogs, especially the brainless young ones, trying to catch bees and wasps, snapping at them in the air. A bee or wasp sting in the throat could be life threatening in a matter of minutes.. so please talk to your vet about having something on hand for an emergency. I'll never forget the time, many years ago, that we babysat my brother in law's dog. He would catch bees in his mouth and bite them in half and spit them out. I was always afraid something would happen to him. Nothing ever did, but every time he did it, I would say, you are going to pay for this bit of lunacy. :(